Fall Hobby 2014: Apple Orchards

About a month ago, Mr. RH and I were with his family when we made a spontaneous trip to the local apple orchard.  We bought lots of random, fun goodies - and I knew I was on a dangerous path.  I literally couldn't live one more day without a flippin cup of honeycrisp apple cider every hour on the hour.

Damn, I wish this picture was better.

Anyway, as we drove home, I immediately texted both BFF's with babies and told them we needed to make immediate plans to get to an orchard.

Plans were set and we were off with two tiny princesses in tow.

Princess #1 - my #BFFbaby who apparently doesn't have a name on my blog, except #BFFbaby.  It was so much easier when there was only ONE BFF baby, but now that there are two... I mean... #BFFbaby2 doesn't really have a great ring to it...

Princess #2 - Miss Maeven, the tiny peanut of the group.

Anyway, I loaded Miss Maeven into her carseat and she immediately gave me a big smile.  We had a 30-minute drive to the orchard, so I took this as a GREAT sign.  She was excited, we were going to have a great day!!

I mostly missed her smile with my camera... but trust me, she was happy!

We arrived at the orchard and were immediately assaulted by... bees!  Definitely not what we had planned for, but we improvised.

We found a random apple crate in the parking lot, ducked ourselves under a giant apple tree... and, well, #BFFbaby really worked it. 

You guys, I love all my friends babies with the fire of a thousand burning suns... but this cheese is literally too much to handle.

Her mom claims she learned all her cheese from me... and truthfully, I can't dispute that claim. 

That tongue kills me dead!!

On the other hand... #MissMaeven got like .24% of a nap in the car, which wasn't exactly her favorite thing ever.

And it might make me a bad aunt that I was like... well, sorry Maeven, we take what we can get around here even if that means a screaming baby.

Luckily, she had some cute buns on so that we could ignore her screaming face and focus on the cute butt.   And it was a really cute, pumpkin-y butt.

Don't tell me it makes me a bad aunt that I let her scream her head off for bursts so we could take a few photos.  Girl needs to learn how to act right in a picture or she's in for a world of pain with Aunt Sarah.  #poorbaby

Someday we will use these photos as proof that diva/sassy personality traits emerge early in the first year of life.

Until then, we can just use them to remember a lovely trip to the apple orchard.  Screaming baby and all.

Why oh why doesn't fall last forever?!  

January: Go Away. Except Today.

Why hello there, my name is Sarah, and I used to write on this little blog before January came and sucked away my soul.

If I scroll back into the archives, there are only 2 months that have as few posts as this month did... but... I'm thinking, this month, I might rally.

Today is actually the birthday of my BFF... boy oh boy how life has changed in the past year!

Seriously, if that pic on the left ever gets old you can just knock me upside the head.  Such a special/crazy time for both of us - I'll remember it always.

I'm happy that 3 of the 4 of the BFFs have joined me me on the "old side"... I hate being the oldest in my group of friends, although I guess the fake blonde keeps the gray away, right?

I'm not gonna lie... we kinda look like a picture that comes with a frame.  If we were in black and white, that is.

I'm sorry, I'm not really going anywhere with this post.

#BFFbaby says I need to wrap this situation up ASAP.

Quick story about that photo.  I turned around and decided to grab said #BFFbaby a little warm bottle - and as soon as I turn, she puts her hands up by her face and makes that mug.

I laughed so hard I scared the look right off her face.

How can a 3 month old be so perfect?

Happy Birthday to the bestest mommy I know, my BFF!

Also.... you may want to come back tomorrow if you like wedding pictures.  FINALLY.

Eeek! 

Ikea or Bust.

It's not like I've got a backlog of posts or anything, but back in APRIL, my three BFF's and I packed up #BFFbaby and headed to Ohio on an IKEA pilgrimage.

We had a long list of items for family and friends... and in the end we probably should have rented a giant RV... but we made it work in a big big pickup truck.

But first... we made a pit stop in Jeffersonville, OH at a giant outlet mall.  We didn't arrive till late afternoon on a Sunday, so we had to supermarket-sweep through all our choice stores. 

And then our littlest shopper pooped out, so I was basically in heaven with a heavy baby in my arms.  WEEP.  She's so much bigger than this now!

We spent the night near IKEA, and packed up our truck in an absolute DOWNPOUR.  There were some construction folks at the hotel who were QUITE concerned that four girls in dresses (and a baby) were strapping a tarp to the back of a truck in the pouring rain.  Hot mess!

Luckily, the rain stopped right as we pulled in, and we were off to the races.  

We snapped a quick group photo - and yes, we're all a little rain-rough.. and it was off to the show room!

We let the little monkey sample the goods... she liked it.

I think the pic below might be one of my favorites of #BFFbaby.  I love how she's lounging! 

I found some really essential items that I wasn't really sure why they were selling...

And we created a cocoon in a cart when our littlest shopper pooped out... she napped in there for a couple hours.  I won't even tell you how many times we walked around an aisle and said, "wait, where's the cart?!?"  You know, the important one carrying a tiny human.

After approximately 6 hours of shopping till we drop - it was time for the ultimate task of loading up the car.  

Everybody thought we were nuts, but we managed to load up our ride and then cover it with a tarp because there were strong storms forecasted our entire drive home.  LUCKILY, we didn't get a drop of rain and made it home in one piece. 

And then it took me over a month to put all the IKEA stuff away and together.  Which, according to my husband is FOREVER ... I bet there are plenty of IKEA boxes in garages all over the country - un-assembled.

IKEA is always such a fun trip when I bring my BFFs... I'm trying to convince my husband to make a pilgrimage with me in July.... bad idea?

Happy Monday!

National Ice Cream Day 2015

In case you don't have any social media accounts, yesterday was National Ice Cream Day.  I don't even know if that was a thing prior to.... now - but alas, it was, and I celebrated.... more than once.

I hung out with my BFF and #bffbaby in the afternoon, and she made us a batch of brownies to accompany our ice cream.  That was at approximately 5 pm.

I thought I had the whole National Ice Cream Day in the bag - but alas, there was more!

My husband got off of work with 2 hours to spare before our best local ice cream place closed.  Or - he was supposed to.

With about 15 minutes to spare till closing time, my husband swept me into the car where we were pretty much last in line at the ice cream shop.

I made my order, and Mr. RH ordered the most ridiculous order - a banana split.  Huge, massive hot mess of an order in 90% humidity.  Whatever.

So we wait for a few minutes, closing time passes, and the girl at the window is shouting out "sugar cone, birthday cake."

And again,  "sugar cone, birthday cake."

I'm thinking to myself, "hello, who ordered that damn cone?!"

Oh, right, that would be me.

 Not the same cone.  Because... you'll see.

I take my shame face up to the window and get my cone.  About 2 seconds later, licking my melting prize,  the scoop, perfectly perched on top of the cone, falls off the cone.  Amateur hour.

Directly into my purse and onto my phone, no less.

So, as a rational adult... I reach down into my purse and grab the dang scoop and put it back on top of my cone.  And then I proceed to turn my back to the people eating nearby and discreetly try to lick my phone while attempting to forget every single 20/20 episode where they tell you your phone is the dirtiest thing you own and will likely kill you someday.

Embarrassment aside, we finally grab Mr. RH's banana split and high tail it to the car.  He holds it like the golden ticket and I pretend I don't know the goon with the giant banana split.

Walk into the house, sit on the couch, and suddenly Mr. RH's banana split is leaking all over his lap and the pillow from the couch.

National Ice Cream Day: 2.  RH Family: -0.

Ice cream, if I didn't love you so much, we would be finished.  Alas.... nope.

Until we meet again, old foe.

The Eyes! Baby Fever!

Last week, my BFF finally went back to work since having the gorgeous #BFFbaby in late October.  As amazing as it was to have her around on my days off for shopping and hanging out and just being lazy... I know she was a little excited to get back to work.

On the other hand, leaving the sweetest, chubbiest baby had to be SO HARD, I can't even imagine.

Luckily, I was off on her first day back, so I got to keep the chubby buddy for the day - so of course we had a little photo shoot moment just in time for Mother's Day.  Perfect!!

And while I can't really claim to be a photographer... she is seriously the cutest subject EVER.

Luckily, one of our other BFFs had a little pinterest inspiration. 

Without further ado... the cutest six month old ever. 

Those eyes!!!

I don't think she could believe I was letting her chew on the necklace.  The babysitter in me was very concerned that she could choke on a plastic pearl, but we pushed through. 

 If there is anything cuter than this girl's big eyes... I refuse to believe it.

I will never claim to be a pro with a camera, but taking cute pictures of this angel is so fun. 

Kinda gives me the baby fever. 

Unfortunately, my husband's biological clock must be turned off. 

Men.

December in a Nutshell

So you blog about how you're getting back to blogging and then you let 21 days go between blog posts.  AHEM.

I want to blog, and I've been mentally composing blog posts for weeks... but I feel awkward about that big blog pause from November to... now.  I feel like I need to explain the days away, ya know??

Anyway, things hit the fan somewhere around the 2nd week of November.  My boss and I were working on the Big Black Friday schedule (approximately a billion hours of work, for those of you not in retail), and then she mentioned (on my day off) that I should probably stop by the store.  No big thing, so I stopped by in my sweats and she dropped a big bomb on me: she was leaving the following week for a temporary assignment in the Mall of America.

So along with losing a huge chunk of ground on a massive schedule... I also become the sole authoritiy within our four walls, which meant that I don't think I spent more than 3-4 hours at a time between November and the last week of December away from actually working or calling and texting the team in my store.  It was fun, it was a TON of work, and I can't say that I was sad to see December end. 

That being said... I think I've been feeling a little blue because Mr. RH and I "missed'" Christmas.  We never watched It's a Wonderful Life, we didn't drive around and look at Christmas lights, I baked only a few cookies when I really felt like I had to...  so yeah, I've got a little post-Christmas hangover.

Luckily, the time I spent away from this blog allowed me to carve out a little time to do some fun things, and even though I barely got my camera out all through Christmas... I managed to capture just enough photos so I've got a few memories to look back on.

Mr. RH and I went with his family to see the lights the week after Thanksgiving.  I'm glad we took the time then, cause we didn't end up with any better opportunities closer to Christmas.

We got one decent-ish photo of the two of us....

And I re-created a favorite photo of Mr. RH from way back in 2012. 

(I can barely click the link to that old photo.  Where did that long hair and baby face go?!)

We made it to Christmas mass with my dad, and he managed to get probably the only good photo of the two of us during Christmas.  I think if 2015 had a resolution, it would be MORE PHOTOS!!!

Right after Christmas I was able to make some time for my BFFs, and I got to snuggle #BFFbaby in her cozy PJs.  I don't like that she's growing up, but I love that she let me snuggle me long enough for her mom to snap a picture.

And we managed to get a so-so picture of the BFFs.  I was having camera issues.  

And then I took another afternoon and managed to get a couple pics of Miss Maeven in rare, sassy form.  This girl does not like to have a photo taken and she is a sass for my camera.  Love it!

Although if she smiled once in a while on command I wouldn't cry either.

So... it was a good Christmas.  A busy, chaotic Christmas that went by in the blink of any eye... but apparently I also had fun in between all of the craziness.  The proof is in the pictures!

Now... back to 2015!

2 Weeks Radio Silence

Oh, hi there ya little bloggity-blog blog.  It's been a quick 2 week breakup, but I think we should get back together. 

So, where have I been? 

A few places.  Spending some quality time with my husband, eating like it's my job, starting to exercise (and subsequently falling off the bandwagon), spending quality time with #BFFbaby before she heads back to work (today!), dreaming about the future, getting a wee bit carried away with online shopping (damn, why isn't my money tree blooming this year?!), and lots and lots of time-wasting on twitter.

As you can see... reeeeally busy this Spring.

But I'm going to try and get back to this blogging thing.  Soon!

Happy Monday!